Balblair 2011 6 YO (A.D. Rattray Cask Collection)

Balblair 2011 6 YO (A.D. Rattray Cask Collection), 59.7 %

Here is another recent expression from the independent bottler A.D. Rattray, a bottler just recently available in Norway.

The Balblair 2011 6 YO (A.D. Rattray Cask Collection) was distilled on 2011-06-21. Initially it was matured in a sherry butt, before it was finished in a Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead (cask #636). On 2017-10-27 it was bottled and the total outturn was 306 bottles.

The Balblair 2011 6 YO (A.D. Rattray Cask Collection) is released for sale in Norway on May 4 at NOK 1049 (8355501). If you're in the UK the price is around GBP 55.

Nose: Rich, perhaps a bit too affluent (there's a tiny alcohol bite here), and quite fruity. It certainly is a young-ish whisky, but quite welcoming. A bakery in a lush pine wood forest. With time it calms down a lot; now I get vanilla and more distinct fruit notes - fresh apples and dried fruits (raisins ++).

Taste: Full-bodied and oily mouthfeel. Floral and herbal - in fact, very much so. White pepper, white chocolate (but not very sweet), mint and cinnamon sticks.

Finish: Medium long finish. Massive with green mint and fizzy cinnamon (huh?). Hints of oak, bitter orange marmalade and toast.

Comments: Big and bold, but young-ish.

Score (83/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas